The Blue Star Memorial Program began in 1944 through the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs. As a living memorial to veterans of World War II, the group planted 8,000 Dogwood trees along 5 ½ miles of the US 22. The National Council of State Garden Clubs (NGC) adopted the Blue Star Program in 1945. Then, the group initiated the Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker program. To pay tribute to service members, NGC erected highway markers at roadside rest stops, vista points, historical sites and other areas.
To qualify for a Blue Star Memorial Marker, a club must apply to NGC. The application lists a designated location. A fee accompanies the request (currently $1590). Once approved, the project may move forward. Blue Star Memorial Markers include the line “A Tribute to The Armed Forces of America”.
Located just outside the main entrance of the Center (Prescott Adult Center), AVGC dedicated Blue Star Memorial Marker September 10, 2014. The Alta Vista Garden Club Beautification Committee maintains the memorial